Starving Insect - The Great Nothing

Swedish doomcore/industrial techno project (self-described by the artist as "Swedish apocalyptic hardcore techno") Starving Insect has made his debut full length debut on Dark. Descent. just back in April. With three short, digital EPs already to his name (one which was a collaboration with Norwegian Hardcore Producer/DJ RagnaRok), "The Great Nothing" provides an excellent mix of doomcore and industrial techno that claims its own identity, as well. 

What is rather lovely about this release is that the download comes with two different masters for two different kinds of people; the first is a very high quality release with clarity and precision paid attention to the most. However, the second is mainly for DJs as it is much, MUCH louder than the regular masters and was mastered by Enrico Stade, otherwise known for his industrial hardcore project Embrionyc. Personally, I preferred the standard master over the loud masters, for as the label has stated, quality was the main objective there, and quality does beat loudness. Although, I do think my opinion would change should I be inside a club at any point. 

However, whichever master you pick won't really deter you from the musical experience, it really all just depends on how much you enjoy your ears being brutalized. If by the time you get halfway through the first song, 'Overhead, Without Any Fuss, The Stars Were Going Out' and you really don't find yourself all too into the track, you should walk away with your head held down because Starving Insect's sounds have infested my head and I just can't get enough of them. 

That first song paired with the second and third, which happen to be 'Breeding The Threnodies' featuring Omnicide and 'Sleep Is Death', contain slow, throbbing beats that work there way to your core throughout their time spanning lengths. The shortest song out of those three is 'Sleep Is Death', which still manages to clock in almost at six minutes, while the first song comes in nearing ten minutes; it's impressive material for being able to hold my attention for so long, and also shows off a skilled producer is behind all these thumbing rhythms. 

'There Are No Doors' keeps the same pace as the previous three songs, but illusions to a more haunting atmosphere reminiscing a few horror films. 'IDDQD' has a very stompy rhythm to it, citing influences from trance but still maintaining a distance away from it, and the same can sort of be said for 'Dormant Storm', although it has a completely different flavor from the previous track. 'Visions Of The Blind Dead' has this very catchy, faster paced rhythm mixed with an unholy concoction of visceral beats, and turned out very, very nicely. And, the final song, once more featuring the talented Omnicide, mixed in atmospheric ambient music with familiar feeling music that we've been exposed to throughout this entire album. It delineated from most of the other songs showcasing that, even though Starving Insect has shown his producer chops for a good fifty minutes already, he can still stand and deliver a plethora of beautiful sounds with his final outing.

I will admit that I am a fairly new listener to the offerings of Dark. Descent. and other sub-labels of Noisj, but that doesn't mean I can't see why they are so loved by their fans and following. They manage to crank out some really, really effective, energetic, and passionate releases that are just as good as they are ascribed to be. And, Starving Insect just so happens to be a part of this wonderful family as he well deserves to be. Give some love to this Swedish beast and go get his release. 
Jun 12 2015